Border Crossing Times at San Ysidro the Subject of New Group

Border crossing times at San Ysidro and Otay Mesa hurts economies both sides of the border. With more people choosing the less expensive housing on the south side of the border this is an issue of growing concern.

The convention and visitor bureaus of Rosarito Beach and Ensenada have joined the San Diego Alliance for Border Efficiency, a bi-national group that seeks to reduce border wait times while ensuring secure crossings.

“We’re pleased to have additional Mexican representation in our efforts regarding key border crossing issues,” said Angelika Villagrana, director of the public policy division of the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce and alliance coordinator.
Lengthy border wait times already cost the region several billion dollars a year in lost revenue, plus significant inconvenience to cross-border workers, shoppers, tourists and visitors, studies show.

“Border issues are of vital importance both to Baja residents --- Mexican and American --- as well as businesses here and in the United States,” said Hugo Torres, president of the Association of Businessmen of Rosarito.
 

Initially, the initiative would have required all U.S. citizens to have passports to re-enter the United States, rather than the driver’s license or birth certificate now required.

In January, thanks to concerns expressed by legislators and groups including the Border Alliance, the U.S. announced that a less costly border crossing card would be acceptable in lieu of a passport.

Other mitigation measures are being studied by the
alliance that could reduce the impact on short-term travelers who might not have a passport or border crossing card.
 

The two Baja, California cities last week joined the Tijuana tourism commission, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the California Department of Transportation as alliance partners.

Alliance members include the cities of San Diego and Chula Vista; San Diego Association of Governments; San Diego Regional Economic Development Corp.; South San Diego County Economic Development Council; Institute of Regional Studies at San Diego State University; San Diego Dialogue; San Diego World Trade Center; San Ysidro Business Association; and the chambers of commerce of San Diego, Otay Mesa and San Ysidro. Representatives of U.S. Customs and regional legislators also attend meetings.

Among major issues the alliance addresses is the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, which will add additional document requirements for U.S. citizens crossing into the United States from Mexico, Canada and the Caribbean starting in 2008.

“Everyone wants a secure border,” said Villagrana. “But we want that to be achieved in a way that does not unnecessarily hamper vital cross-border travel.
“A SANDAG study shows that the impact of the average 45-minute delay to cross into the U.S. costs the San Diego region about $2.5 billion annually and Mexico hundreds of millions of dollars.”

“Beyond that, every 15-minute increase in average border crossing time costs the region $1 billion a year, the SANDAG study showed,” she said.
The Border Alliance also is working for a third border crossing in addition to San Ysidro and Otay Mesa, expanded crossing hours and enhanced technology. It also works to publicize border crossing issues.